Lebel Training Rifle…………….(f 914) SOLD

An Extremely Rare Lebel .22 Training Rifle

A beautifully crafted, lightweight small-bore version of the French lebel rifle.  Produced as a training rifle for beginner shooters in the same vein as the DSM-34 trainers built by Germany.  Produced to accurately familiarize young troops with the full bore version they would move onto in their training.  Extremely similar to its bigger brother this rifle was manufactured in France and chambered in .22.

Built to simulate the full bore lebel this example is 42.1/4″ long.  The fine round blued barrel is approximately 25″ long and the trigger pull is 13″ to center.  The rifle functions as a single shot with a short straight arm bolt in the familiar Lebel style.  Slab sided action finished in strong case-colour hardened blues and typical lebel style bolt which turns through a 90 degree arc.

The rifle clearly carries the serial number “3222” on the receiver and the barrel knox.  The serial number is repeated on many of the major components including the main body of the bolt and the bolt-head.  On disassembly the last digits were found on trigger parts and screws within.  This serial number is clearly impressed into the side of the butt-stock to confirm that this item has remained together since it was produced.  The full number is repeated on the underside of the nose-cap.

The barrel retains its fine original blued finish, with rear and fore-sight mounted on top.  The side of the rear-sight ramp is clearly marked with the following distance marks; “80, 100, 150, 200.”  The steel shaped butt-plate shows a fine amount of colour as do the bands.

The fore-end has shallow finger grooves in either side and there is a sling swivel on the mid-band.  The rear is absent.  The French walnut stock has many markings similar to cartouches, impressed into both sides of the butt stock, however they are difficult to read.  Time to investigate these would add to the satisfaction of owning such a fine and rare training rifle.  There is also a very clear crossed arrows type mark reminiscent of British proof marks with the other larger French markings.  Restoration of the stock would normally have been undertaken but it is feared that most of these intriguing marks would be lost with the old varnish.

This is a fine and very original Lebel Trainer in wonderful condition. The bore is in excellent condition with fine fully intact rifling with no perceptible pitting or interruptions to the pattern.  This should be an excellent shooter when occasionally exercised.  British proofed 2018.  Rifles like this are the reason I do this as a living.

Stock No f 914

£ 1250.  (SOLD)

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